529 Plan Details:
Enter your state:
World's Simplest College Calculator:
How old is your child?
Find a 529 Pro:
Enter your zip code:
Enroll In a 529 Plan:
Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP)
Utah
The Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP) state-administered 529 savings program utilizes Vanguard index funds, the State Treasurer's fixed-income fund, and an FDIC-insured savings account in its five different age-based options and seven static portfolio options.
5-Cap Rating
| Resident: |  |
|---|---|
| Non-Resident: |
|
Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Ratings provides an evaluation and comparison of 529 plans, utilizing a formula that examines dozens of factors grouped into the following categories. (Scale 0 to 5; 5 is highest)
| Performance | Costs | Features | Reliability | Resident Upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.85 | 4.16 | 3.47 | 4.90 | 0.35 |
General
Did you know?
Residents are not limited to investing in their own state's plan. Another state may offer a plan that performs better and has lower fees. If there is no tax break offered for in-state investors ... shop around!
Also, the plan chosen does not affect which state the student enrolls in. An investor can live in NY, invest in a plan from NV and send a student to college in FL.
Program type:
Savings
Telephone:
1-800-418-2551
Web site:
How to enroll:
Enroll directly with the program.
Initial year of operation:
1996
State agency(ies):
Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority
Program manager:
Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority
Program distributor:
Not applicable.
Manager contract term:
Premium subscription required for this data.
Eligibility
State residency requirements:
None
Who can be a participant/owner in the program?
Individuals at least 18 years old, UGMA/UTMA custodians, and legal entities.
Significant time or age restrictions imposed by the program:
None. The requirement that distributions begin by a certain age or date was removed in 2008.
Contributions
Maximum contributions:
Accepts contributions until all account balances in Utah's 529 plan for the same beneficiary reach $397,000.
Minimum contributions:
No minimum.
Investment Options
Age-based investment options:
4 age-based investment options, with different underlying investments and risk levels, are offered. Contributions are allocated among the underlying investments according to the option selected and the age of the beneficiary, and are reallocated to become more conservative as the beneficiary approaches college age. A fifth, the Customized Age-Based investment option allows for a customized account asset allocation from as many as 9 underlying investments, and automatically reallocates to a new customized underlying investment allocation each time the beneficiary's age qualifies for the next of seven possible age brackets.
Static investment options:
7 static investment options are offered, allowing selection among 2 individual-fund index portfolios, 2 equity-index, multi-fund portfolios, an FDIC-insured savings account with Zions First National Bank, and the State Treasurers' Investment Fund (one for Non-Utah residents and one for Utah residents). A seventh, the Customized Static Option, allows for a customized mix of investments using as many as 9 underlying investment choices.
Underlying investments:
Vanguard mutual funds, an FDIC-insured savings account held at Zions First National Bank, and the Utah Public Treasurers' Investment Fund.
Underlying fund allocations:
Premium subscription required for this data.
Investment performance link:
Premium subscription required for this data.
Portfolio Fees & Performance Lookup
Premium subscription required for this data.
Fees & Expenses
Enrollment or application fee:
None.
Account maintenance fee:
$3 per $1,000 of account balance up to a maximum of $15 annually. Fee is waived for Utah residents and for non-Utah residents who agree to electronic delivery of quarterly account statements.
Program management fees:
0.15% - 0.20% annualized administrative fee; charged monthly. The fee is waived for the Public Treasurers' Investment Fund for Utah residents only.
Expenses of the underlying investments:
Ranges from 0.02% to 0.41%, except the State Public Treasurers' Investment Fund and the FDIC-Insured Savings option incur no additional expenses.
Total asset-based expense ratio:
0.18% - 0.26% (Utah residents 0.00% - 0.26%) for UESP investment options excluding the Customized Age-Based and the Customized Static options. The Customized Static option range is 0.20% - 0.61% and the Customized Age-Based option range is 0.20% - 0.30%, depending on the investment mix selected by the account owner.
Taxes and other Benefits
Program match on contributions:
The Fast Forward Matching Program provides an annual match of up to $400 in contributions per beneficiary for eligible Utah families. Participation is subject to income limits, age requirements, and funds availability.
State tax deduction or credit for contributions:
Contributions to the Utah 529 plan of up to $1,840 in 2013 per beneficiary by an individual, and up to $3,680 in 2013 per beneficiary by a married couple filing jointly, are eligible for a 5% credit against Utah income tax. The maximum credit in 2012 is $89 per beneficiary for single taxpayers and $178 per beneficiary for joint filers. The credit limits are increased each year for inflation, but not decreased for deflation. Contributions to an account established after a beneficiary reaches age 19 are not eligible. Contributions from a non-owner are creditable by the account owner and not by the non-owner/contributor. Contribution deadline is receipt by the last business day of the year.
Value of in-state tax benefits:
Premium subscription required for this data.
State tax recapture provisions:
The principal portion of rollovers and nonqualified withdrawals from this plan are included in Utah taxable income to the extent of prior Utah tax deductions or Utah tax credits. Nonqualified withdrawals for this purpose do not include withdrawals eligible for federal penalty waiver.
State tax treatment of qualified distributions:
Qualified distributions from Utah and non-Utah 529 plans are exempt.
State tax treatment of rollovers:
Utah follows federal tax-free treatment except that outbound rollovers are subject to the recapture of prior state tax deductions or tax credits.
Does the sponsoring state exclude the value of an account for state financial aid purposes?
No
Does participation in the program provide beneficiaries with any advantages in qualifying for resident tuition status at state institutions?
No, except that for accounts opened before May 5, 2008, beneficiaries may receive in-state tuition at an eligible Utah school if they held a UESP account and lived in Utah for eight consecutive years prior to moving out of state.
Does the program have a formal agreement with a rewards program or outside scholarship program?
No
Statutory protection of an account from creditors:
Premium subscription required for this data.
Distributions & Terminations
To whom are distributions made payable:
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Account Changes
Policy regarding participant/owner changes:
Accepts requests to transfer account ownership.
Documents, Access & Reporting
Does participant have online password-protected access to account?
Yes
Can the complete enrollment process including funding be done online?
Yes
Documents and other services accessible or downloadable on the program's public Web site:
Premium subscription required for this data.
Login to My Account